New acquisition: Dan Wesson 15-2

[Dudemeister]

I just bought a Dan Wesson 15-2 357 CTG with a 6" barrel. Well, since this is California, the gun is being held hostage at my local FFL for the next 10 days.

But before we worked up the transfer papers, I got to shoot it. This thing is smooth as silk in both double and single action. I appears to have undergone a trigger job a while back, because the trigger breaks at around 1lb. I was also surprised at how short the action was, it feels like half of the action of my prized Colt Officer Model Match.

The gun appears to be in near mint condition, now visible wear on the barrel or the cylinder, and no scratches. Just a very faint ring around the cylinder lock notches. The only thing is the original grips were replaced by a set of Pachmayr grips.

So now a couple of questions:

1. I paid $450 for the gun and that included the tool to remove the barrel. Is this a good price?

2. The case blue has turned to a plum color. I understand this is pretty common on the early 80's DW's. What causes this color turn, and is it something that can be reversed.

3. Where can I find "reasonably priced" barrels, and what is considered "reasonably priced". I'd like to get a 4".

 

[Fishslayer]

Barrels and stocks are still available. Check out the Dan Wesson forums.

People in Free States will likely say that $450 is too much. IMO that's not too far out of line for post Sandy Hook California if it's in really nice shape, especially if it's a Monson gun. The finish on the blued Dan Wessons was stunning. I have a 15-2 in 4" and the thing is pretty impressive. Mine was $300 OTD a few years ago but the finish is nowhere near pristine but does have the original grip. It's a tack driver.

 

[Deer_Freak]

I have a 15-2 with the full set of barrels (4", 6", 10"). I live in a free state. A $450 offer wouldn't even be enough for me to get it out of the safe for you to look at it. I see 15-2 pistols for $400 and under but they all have heavy holster wear. Sometimes the barrel shroud looks like it was installed with a hammer.

You got a nice looking and shooting gun for $450. That is hard to do any more. People that take good care of a gun for 30 years think a lot of it. Usually the only way they will part with that gun is death or a full value trade for a gun they like even more in the same condition.

 

[CaptHank]

Welcome to the world of Dan Wesson. I have three of the them, 41 Mag, 8 & 6" barrels, 2 357 Mags, 8 & 6", 8 & 2" barrels. They are the most accurate revolvers in my safe.

Watch the heads turn when you are at the pistol range. Count on chewing up the 9 and 10 ring.

 

[hAkron]

http://www.ewkarms.com/ -- this guy makes amazing after market DW parts. He sells out quick, so check his site often. He also sells great fiber optic front sights and internal parts kits, and DW specific tools. eBay for everything else.

Also, congrats on your Dan Wesson!!

I have 3 15-2's (one is a complete Pistol PAC), a stainless 715, a 14-2, and a 44. I love them!

 

[hardluk1]

EWKarms also has barrels and shrouds , Most anything needed for DW revolvers.

LB Customs for DW wood grips. Both can be found at the danwessonforums. I tend to use soft rubber grips for hunting.

Price you paid would be a upper end price from what I see . The cylinders really don't mark as much as most other makes so wear and tear can be harder to tell. Some one will come along and explain the plum color better than I can but different heat treating in the metals in the frame , side plate and shroud seems to take the blueing differently. The main frame on many does turn a plum color.

My 44, wifes 357 my 357 and our .22lr along with a several other barrels.

 

[Steve CT]

This would be the previously mentioned Dan Wesson Forum:

http://www.danwessonforum.com/

Answers to your questions:

1) $450 is not a great price, also not unreasonable

2) The plum color occurs in some Dan Wessons (also some Rugers) due to the silica content in the steel of some batches of the frames. You are unlikely to permanently overcome the purple hue, even with re-bluing

3) Not sure what reasonable prices would be, barrel assemblies are commonly available on eBay, less frequently on GunBroker, and members on DWF sometimes sell/trade. EWK is featured on DWF and makes great stuff.

 

[Dudemeister]

Hey guys, thanks for the EWK Arms link. The do indeed have what I'm looking for, a 4" barrel, and it even looks bad-ass with that slab shroud.

I'll probably order one of those next month.

 

[hAkron]

I have a 6" EWK on one of my 15-2's and I have a 4" stainless for my 715. They shoot better than factory barrels (in my unscientific opinion )

 

[brbdwyr]

Here's mine:



I paid $400 and have ZERO regrets. And I dig the plum frames.

 

[Steve CT]

Hey guys, thanks for the EWK Arms link. The do indeed have what I'm looking for, a 4" barrel, and it even looks bad-ass with that slab shroud.

I'll probably order one of those next month.

I would not wait too long. Eric is a pretty busy guy, and his products sell out pretty quickly. The EWK items are a sideline/labor of love to his machine shop business.